No dead end’ yet in murder case

Investigators are citing secrecy as the reason only one of two suspects is in custody a week after a home invasion and murder on La Porte Avenue north of Columbia.

“We are still talking to people. We know there are people out there that know more than they are telling us,” Detective Tom O’Sullivan of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said. “We are just having difficulty getting accurate information.”

Since the shooting death of Donnell Coleman on the night of April 17, sheriff’s department and Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad investigators have pursued 118 leads, resulting in interviews with 60 associates of the victim. More than 100 residences have been canvassed for clues, O’Sullivan said. Patrol officers also have made 25 traffic stops based on information related to the murder.

Nine unrelated arrests were made as a result of those contacts, including several people with outstanding warrants for probation-and-parole violations. A $1,000 CrimeStoppers reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the still-unknown second suspect in the homicide, in which two men were seen leaving the scene in a dark sedan.

“By no means are we at a dead end,” O’Sullivan said. “We are getting information. A lot of it is inaccurate or rumor, but it’s not all information of a dubious nature. We just need more accurate information. We need them to step up to the plate and do the right thing.”

On Wednesday, murder suspect Deangelo Grant, 26, turned himself in at the U.S. Marshal’s office in Jefferson City. He remained in their custody this morning and is saying little to investigators, O’Sullivan said. Grant is believed to be the shooter. The vehicle the suspects are believed to have left the scene in has not been located, and investigators do not have a license plate number.

Deputies responded about 11:35 p.m. April 17 to 7711 La Porte Ave., Apt. A, and found Coleman with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A probable cause statement said a witness identified “Deeter” as the gunman. “Deeter” is listed as an alias for Grant in a law enforcement database. Grant also was identified through a photo lineup.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 875-8477 or the sheriff’s department at 875-1111.